Brophy 35
Boulder Creek 14
George Liddy ’14
THE ROUNDUP
The Broncos had a close game on their hands Friday, Aug. 31 against Boulder Creek in Anthem until the third quarter when they pulled away to seal the victory.
Brophy beat Boulder Creek 35-14 after only six days of rest because of Brophy’s nationally televised game against California powerhouse Santa Margarita. They lost that game 27-14.
It was a bounce-back win for the Broncos–finishing their 10 day, three game challenge at 2-1.
Brophy struck early with a quarterback keeper for six yards by Tyler Bruggman ’13. Phil Mourikes ‘14 made the extra point to make the score 7-0 halfway through the first quarter. Mourikes ‘14 would go on to make all of his extra point attempts.
The Broncos then held Boulder Creek to a three-and-out. On third and six, Andrew Curtis ’13 got into the backfield to tackle the Jaguars running back for a six yard loss. This led to a punt and good field position for Brophy.
The Broncos took advantage of the field position, going on a 38-yard drive capped off by a passing touchdown for 13 yards from Bruggman to Devon Allen’13. This made the score 14-0. However, the workhorse of this drive was Marche Dennard ’13, who rushed for 30 yards, including a 21-yard run.
“The big boys are doing all the work…It wasn’t that hard,” Dennard said. “I just had to run the ball.”
The Jaguars went on a 78-yard drive with a four yard touchdown pass with only five seconds left in the half. After making the extra point kick, the score was 14-7 Brophy.
The Jaguars got the ball to start a relatively quiet third quarter. Neither team was able to score on offense. However, late in the quarter Brophy blocked a Jaguars’ punt.
Robert Relf ’13 recovered the ball and took it back 10 yards for the touchdown. This made the score 21-7 Brophy.
The Broncos started the fourth quarter with a four play, 61-yard drive, which only took about a minute and a half. Matt Auran ’13 caught a pass from Bruggman and ran it 42 yards for the score.
The Broncos then led 28-7 with 10:53 left in the game.
The Broncos held the Jaguars to a three and out on their next possession and got the ball back at their own 48 yard line.
After a false start by the Broncos, Will Edwards ’14 caught a pass from Bruggman and gained 29 yards to get the first down and move Brophy into Jaguar territory. After another long reception play, this time to Auran for a gain of 24 yards, Dennard ran in a one-yard touchdown. This put the Broncos up 35-7 with 5:53 left in the game.
The Jaguars responded by going on a 60 drive, finished off by a four-yard touchdown pass. This made the game 35-14 with 2:22 left.
The Broncos were able to run out the clock after that, ending the game at 35-14.
“The team did not play a great game,” said head coach Mr. Scooter Molander. He gave credit to Boulder Creek for “having a good game plan against us” and added that the team had “improvements in the running game except for some costly penalties.”
Mr. Molander also complimented the special teams unit.
“They stepped up … Clark Attaway (’13) had a great punt block, and Robert Relf did a nice job of recovering it,” he said.
The Broncos will host Mesa Red Mountain Friday, Sept. 7. This will be the first game they play on a full week’s rest since their season opener against Glendale Mountain Ridge.
Notes:
- The Broncos just finished their third game in August. They were one of two football teams in Arizona (Salpointe Catholic) to have to accomplish this.
- Marche Dennard ’13 had 20 carries for 111 yards. This is his first 100-yard rushing game since his injury last year against North Canyon.
- Tyler Bruggman ’13 threw for two touchdowns and threw an interception, making his season touchdown to interception ratio 5:2. He also ran for his first touchdown of the season.
- Brophy’s special teams unit has blocked a punt in their last two games. Both of those punts were returned for touchdowns.
- Phil Mourikes ’14 has made all 12 of his extra point attempts on the year, but has yet to have to try a field goal.
- Every time Clarence Clark ’13 kicked-off the football, it resulted in a touchback for the Jaguars.
- Devon Allen ’13 has scored a touchdown for the Broncos in every game this season.